PAL Worksheet Week 6 Problem Set 2 CLINICAL APPLICATIONS During a scheduled routine surgery, Beth’s left lung was accidentally punctured by the surgeon. The lung was not damaged, but the pleural cavity was pierced, resulting in a Pneumothorax (entering of air from the atmosphere into the intrapleural space). 1) What will happen to Beth’s left lung as a result of the pneumothorax? Clearly explain your answer: 2) What will happen to Beth’s right lung as a result of the left lung pneumothorax? Clearly explain your answer: 3) Discuss how Beth’s collapsed lung(s) can be re-inflated: Diffuse interstitial fibrosis is a restrictive pulmonary disease characterized by decreased compliance of lung tissue and also thickening of the alveolar membranes. Using this information, answer the following questions: 1) briefly explain why an individual with fibrosis would have a reduced lung volume. 2) Why would a patient with fibrosis have decreased systemic arterial O2 levels? 3) Name two factors that normally affect lung compliance: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) includes a group of lung diseases involving the narrowing of lower airways: 1) How does COPD affect airway resistance? 2) On your white board write out the relationship between airflow, resistance and airway diameter: 3) Why does exhalation become an active process in individuals with COPD? Examples of COPDs include chronic asthma, emphysema and chronic bronchitis. 1) Inflammatory changes associated with asthma lead to bronchoconstriction. Why would death result from a severe asthma attack? - Why is it beneficial to carry an inhaler containing albuterol (a beta 2 receptor agonist). - Could an epi pen be used to save an individual suffering from a severe asthma attack? Please justify your answer: 2) In addition to collapse of small airways, emphysema also causes the breakdown of alveoli. In this case, several small alveoli merge and create larger alveoli. - How will this affect gas exchange? - What will the systemic arterial O2 levels of a patient with emphysema be compared to normal?